Hi Ms.McGovern,
This is my review for The Wishing Spell.
Land of Stories, The Wishing Spell
By: Chris Colfer
Reviewed by Nila, Grade 10
Rating: 3.5/5
The Wishing Spell, the first instalment of the series ‘The Land of Stories” by Chris Colfer, was a great quick and easy read. While this book was a little simpler compared to my usual reads, it made sense as it was meant for younger audiences. The gist of the story is as follows, Alex and Conner Bailey are 12 year old twins who recently lost their dad in a car accident. Their mother, Charlotte Bailey is a nurse who is working hard to make ends meet, and who is always working to support her family. The story then picks up when the twins’ grandmother shows up to celebrate their birthday with them. While she is visiting the Bailey twins, she gives them a storybook titled “The Land of Stories,” which has all the classic fairy tales, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty. Then, we discover that the book is actually a portal to the fairy tale world, and all the princes and princesses of fiction are alive. This means that the villains of the story are also alive, and when Alex and Conner fall through the book into the fairy tale world, we get to go along with their adventures. All in all, this was a great and simple read. It really brought back a lot of nostalgia of disney movies, and Chris Colfer brings that childlike wonder into the book. Seeing some of my favourite fairy tales come to life, with every character giving a unique and different personality was really enjoyable. There was a small issue in the book where I found the author was telling rather than showing different actions, but that also reminds me that it is a middle grade book. Although the writing was a bit simpler than I would have enjoyed, it was refreshing to read. I would recommend this book to younger audiences and anyone who wants a simple and quick read that is fun and enjoyable.